Top 7 - Not to Be Missed 2014 Topics in Higher EducationBy John Fees on Dec 31, 2014

John Fees

John Fees is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of GradGuard™. Fees is a graduate of Arizona State University, where he received a bachelors of science degree in History and is also a graduate of Harvard Business School where he completed a Masters in Business Administration. John Fees lives in Phoenix, Arizona and is married to Melissa Soza Fees, Ph.D. and is the father of five children. He is the Treasurer for the Arizona College Success Arizona, a Director of College Parents of America, Founding Director and investor in Tonto Creek Camp which provides service leadership experiences to 8,000 students annually. He is also an active member of University Risk Management and Insurance Association and the Professional Insurance Marketers Association.

2014 was filled with many experiences, events and articles have stayed with me and continue to make me think about challenges facing the U.S. education system. Here is a summary of major topics and themes that are worth more thought.

The question, that resonated most with me, however came from someone in the audience who asked -"but would you wish this form (online) of college education for your own children?" It isn't a cut and dry question - but in so many ways this type of empathy is what is needed most in our discussions surrounding so many important topics facing the U.S.

Though the debate continues to know if this is sufficient or an over-reach in regulations, the call for accountability for the public investment (in grants, student loans etc) will continue. It is striking to me how ACE (American Council on Education) and others now claim that the cost of regulations is driving the rapid rise in the cost of college.

3) Important Insights regarding College Completion by Gallup / Lumnia Foundation. Be sure to read the data from Gallup Education and subscribe toLumnia’s work be sure to watch pursuit of one specific goal—what they call Goal 2025. By the year 2025, Lumina wants 60% of Americans to hold a college degree, certificate or other high-quality postsecondary credential. Complete College America – The 4 Year MythThis is an important study. Current on-time graduation rates suggest that the “four-year degree” and the “two-year degree” have become little more than modern myths for far too many of our students. The report describes the reality as "our system of higher education costs too much, takes too long, and graduates too few." It is noteworthy that Lumnia / Gallup have advanced some of the best thinking, without the apparent resistance, from earlier work by the Gates Foundation.

The work of the Student Press Law Center. When SPLC addresses a topic, it signals to me that a fundamental shift is occurring regarding themes of transparency. Look for more work from SPLC to encourage local reporting of how colleges are disclosing the reality of campus and student life.

6) Education Technology – Google Gmail / Apps & Net NeutralityTwo noteworthy developments that were easy to miss address the technologies that enable college and universities. The first was the admission by Google that it was mining data from student and teacher emails through its Education Suite of services. Google ended the practice after an outcry and lawsuit to protect users privacy,Google Stops Mining Education Gmail And Google Apps Accounts For Ad TargetingIn addition, the debate on “Net Neutrality” has implications for education as well. The concept of net neutrality holds that all Web traffic should be treated equally by Internet providers and governments. However, the Federal Communications Commission proposed new rules that would allow providers, such as Comcast and Verizon, to charge content providers differently. It may not be a major concern but without net neutrality educators may face one more obstacle to distributing their content through affordable and reliable channels.

7) In all of the debate about education reform consider this data point, 71% of Americas 17 – 24 year olds are ineligible for military service.According to a report issued by the Mission: Readiness Group - about 71% of America's 17- to 24-year-olds are ineligible for military service due to lack of education, obesity and other physical problems, or criminal history. Read the report to see how the military is advocating for stronger schools and communities. Imagine the challenges facing colleges and universities when also confronted with these trends when attempting to increase college completion rates.

Implications for 2015

What ever your view is of these higher education trends, I welcome a thoughtful discussion and your insights. More schools, families and students depend on GradGuardto help students' overcome the unexpected financial losses that may disrupt their pursuit of a college education. You can count on our continued voice

A wise friend told me once, that the failure of our educational system is really just a symptom of communities and families that are failing. As much as we may look for alternative remedies (technology, common core, new funding formulas etc), the balance of the issues surrounding education also depend upon your point of view. Too often, our leaders ask us to make a false choice. Is education a personal benefit or a community good? In fact, it is both. Education, and particularly a higher education, is important to building both the capacity of individuals and our society.

Stay tuned as these themes will continue to evolve in 2015 and listen to this webinar to learn more about how schools are making new efforts to disclose their tuition refund policies.